INDIANAPOLIS — Three weeks to the day of his first practice, Jalen Collins finds himself in the same spot. He wants more, but knows more may not come.

At least not this season.

“If I continue out the rest of the year on the practice squad, it is what it is,” Collins said Thursday. “But I definitely wanna get out there and play.”

Collins is the oft-suspended, highly-talented cornerback the Indianapolis Colts signed to the practice squad on Nov. 15. It was a low-risk, high-reward gamble the team was comfortable with taking after working Collins out a day before, and despite the red flags that come with a player who’d been suspended four times before he finished his third NFL season.

While the team signed Collins at a time the secondary looked shaky – injuries played a role in that – the unit is, at this point, as healthy as it’s been all year. And it’s playing its best ball, too. Quincy Wilson has solidified himself as the team’s No. 2 outside cornerback opposite Pierre Desir, allowing Kenny Moore to primarily handle slot duties. The pass defense hasn’t allowed more than 205 passing yards in three weeks.

Collins, meanwhile, is working daily with the scout team in practice, and rotating in as backup when needed.

“Honestly, whatever they need me to do,” he said.

As for a potential debut, it doesn’t appear imminent. Asked about Collins on Tuesday, defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus called him “a work in progress,” before elaborating on what he's seen from Collins in practice thus far.

“Yeah, I do see the talent there,” Eberflus explained. “Now, what he has to learn to do is practice the way we practice. The way we practice is full-out. There is walk-through, and then full speed. Then, once you learn to play full speed all the time, that’s practicing our way. I think he’s learning to do that. He’s not there yet, relative to that. But we have a style in which we play, and each player is held to that standard. When he does that, we will see where he is.”

In other words: Don’t expect Collins’ name to get called up in a day or two.

And that might not be a bad thing. Seven weeks on the practice squad to close the season, allowing Collins a chance to absorb Eberflus’ defensive scheme and relearn the rhythms of the NFL, could set him up for an important and opportunistic summer. Assuming the Colts keep him around, Collins would have the chance to state his case during training camp that he deserves one of the 53 spots on the team’s 2019 roster.

Collins acknowledged while that remains a possibility – perhaps even a strong one – he’s holding out hope he sees the field on a Sunday before 2018 comes to a close.

“I’m putting that time in that I need to get myself ready,” he said. “Because I wanna be able to contribute and go out there and see some action.”

He said he feels comfortable, and thanks to teammates like Desir, Quincy Wilson and Mike Mitchell, has a grasp on the scheme. If a corner succumbs to an injury, Collins vows, he’s be ready to step in.

“More than anything, I’ve just missed being in the locker room,” he said. “Being around the guys is a great feeling. I missed competing. We all have fun and take care of each other here.”